Category Archives: Hepatitis C

Today, one of the most common life-threatening viruses in the world is Hepatitis C. As a potential killer, the deadly virus has the power to damage an individual’s liver function. The liver plays a vital role in how it filters toxins out of the body. However, someone who has hepatitis C and abuses drugs puts their health in grave risk of danger.

What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis means the inflammation of the liver. The true form of the virus will spread once the virus becomes active. As hepatitis C enters the body, the virus will enter through the bloodstream and travel to the liver.During the first stage, the hepatitis virus will live inside the liver and thrive.

How is Hepatitis C Transmitted?

According to research at the San Diego State University Foundation, there are an estimated number of 4 million people in the U.S. exposed to the virus.

This virus can be contracted when someone drinks or eats something that is contaminated by the blood or tool of someone who is infected by the virus. However Hepatitis A does not develop into a serious condition as it would with the B and C virus.

If you use a syringe to inject drugs such as cocaine, LSD, or heroine, it only takes one event to contract the virus. This means anyone who experiments with an infected syringe can be exposed to the virus.

In fact, over 60% of hepatitis C cases were a result of injection drug use. The infection occurs within the first year of the injection for more than half of hepatitis C cases. This is partly due to how the equipment is used as large groups share the drug solution with one set of equipment. As a result, the transmission quickly spreads from one person to another.

Treatments to Consider

More treatments include replacing injections with pills and reducing the side effects in treatment in as little as eight weeks. However, the treatment must be used with a set of combination of ribavirin and interferon to help control the virus and stabilize the spread through the liver.

Antiviral medications are prescribed when the virus is rapidly growing in the body. During the case if a patient consumes large amount of alcohol, a physician may prevent the patient from receiving treatment. This is due to the anti-effect of the medication that the alcohol cancels out.

Conclusion

Just as with any virus, hepatitis can stay in the body for years before it can be determined and affect the functions of the liver. If you have used syringe injections in the past and find yourself suffering from flu-like symptoms, be sure to consult with your physician and discuss the potential of the hepatitis C virus.